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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2002)
Vol. 17, No. 9 “Voice of the Upper Nehalem River Valley”__________________ May 2, 2002 Superintendency dominates agenda On the lookout... Hamblet appointed to board vacancy r « ' IE ' ♦ Jr w ¿v/y t V j r f A - J ? 4 s r 4 r - m ** a r k •: * i ; w K-7 /< * JSJfe^Çjr* 'Ht i ■ V < t / \ fl ■ This bald eagle photographed at Vernonia Lake is half of a pair that apparently are nest- In the area north of Vernonia. Eagles usually visit the lake early in the , but may be frequently seen (at least by those who have an “eagle” eye) riding the afternoon thermals while hunting tor dinner. b City budget shows tentative increase Despite O regon’s bleak eco nomic forecast, the City of Ver nonia will remain on track as it develops plans for a new w astew ater treatm ent facility and continues to improve its parks. The proposed 2002-03 bud get presented by City Adm inis trator and Budget Officer Mike Sykes last Monday to the bud get com m ittee, is “tig h t” al though it reflects an increase of about nine percent in anticipat ed G eneral Fund revenues, from $729,918 for the current year, to $796,829. The opera tive word is “anticipated,” be cause that increase includes funds from grant applications that have not yet been ap proved. Additionally, Oregon law requires local government agencies to adopt a balanced budget by June 30 of each year, but doesn’t require the state Legislature to complete its fiscal adjustments by that date. What will happen to eco nomic development funds at the state level is still unknown, except it is reasonable to as sume there will be significant reductions. The proposed budget in cludes a three percent cost-of- living increase for most em ployees, as is incorporated in the current union agreements. The General Fund will have to pick up a larger percentage of administrative costs from the water and sewer fund to help fi nance expenses that will be re quired to upgrade the City’s wastewater treatment facility. This proposed budget in cludes preparation of a plan that outlines design and costs for a new treatment plant to re duce discharge of treated wastewater into the Nehalem River during summer months. Also included in the pro posed budget are major im provements at Airport Park, to construct a restroom and 25 campsites. The next budget committee meeting will be May 13. After interviewing three can didates on April 11, Darrell Hamblet was the unanimous choice of the Vernonia School District Board of Directors, who appointed him at a special meeting, April 18, to fill the po sition vacated by Jeff Blum. The board also approved a list of qualities and qualifica tions to be used in the search for a new district superinten dent, then continued with a workshop to develop the m e chanics of the interim superin tendent search. To develop information the board can use in seeking a new superintendent, two meetings were held April 10th— one with district staff and administrators, the second with com m unity members. Facilitated by Diane Harr, of the Oregon School Boards Association, the groups produced extensive lists of the qualities and qualifications they felt were important in a superin tendent. Each group was asked to identify positive attributes of the district and w hat the schools do especially well that should be continued and, sec ondly, to identify the challenges facing the district. Finally, Harr asked the groups to identify the personal qualities and profes sional qualifications they felt were necessary to meet the challenges facing the district. Harr presented a list of all comments generated by the two groups. These lists will be used later, during a superinten dent search, and may also be used to develop board and su perintendent goals. Harr also used comments from the groups to develop a short list of qualities and qualifi cations for a superintendent that would meet the specific needs of the Vernonia school district. Harr noted that many of the attributes are common to many districts and that one in dividual cannot meet all of them at a high level of expertise. The board will use the qualities and qualifications identified to help find a candidate who fits the d is tric t’s personality and to match the district’s needs to candidates’ strengths. Personal qualities the district will be searching for include consensus building, accessibil ity, trustw orthiness, and ac countable written and verbal communication skills. Innova tive and creative leadership, strong student advocacy along with visible, active participation in the com m unity were also identified as desirable qualities for a new superintendent. The staff groups emphasized a de sire for an approachable, trust worthy and consistent leader. The board agreed that the dis trict needs a superintendent with a good sense of humor. The groups' lists of profes sional qualifications were ex tensive: Ability to motivate and encourage staff, knowledge of Please see page10 Hazardous Waste Collection A Household H azardous Waste collection will be held May 4, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the St. Helens Fire Dis trict training facility in McNulty Industrial Park, just off Gable Road in St. Helens. The event is free to all Colum bia County Residents. Toxic household wastes in cluding solvents, paints, brake fluids, anti-freeze, fluorescent lights, household cleaners, bat teries, m iscellaneous chem i cals, and household and gar den chem icals will be accepted at the site. Mercury thermome ters may also be exchanged.
